Switch assembly with limit stop structure allowing alternate make and break operational switch states

ABSTRACT

A slider actuates a switch through an actuator, the travel of the slider being limited by a stop means. The slider is spring biased through a spring which is carried by a spring guide, the spring guide engaging the slider through a rectangular slot provided in the slider. The slider is connected to a conventional rotary variable rheostat assembly and shaft.

United States Patent n91 Lipp 1 Dec. 16, 1975 1 SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH LIMIT STOP STRUCTURE ALLOWING ALTERNATE MAKE AND BREAK OPERATIONAL SWITCH STATES [75] Inventor: Ellis P. Lipp, Frankfort, Ind.

[73] Assignee: P. R. Mallory & Co. Inc.,

Indianapolis, Ind.

22 Filed: May 3, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 466,621

[52] US. Cl 200/327; 200/5 R; 200/153 J;

200/328; 338/172; 338/198 [51] Int. Cl. HOlH 9/20; H01C 10/36 [58] Field of Search 200/4, 11 R, 11 J, 14,

200/17 R, 18, 67 R, 67 C, 76, 77,153 J, 153 L, 153 LA, 155, 156, 160, 318, 321-325, 327, 328, 329, 330, 337, 338, 340, 5 R, 50 C; 338/172, 179, 198, 200, 215

Primary Examiner.lames R. Scott Attorney, Agent, or FirmChar1es W. l-loffmann; Robert F. Mayer; Donald W. Hanson 5 7] ABSTRACT A slider actuates a switch through an actuator, the travel of the slider being limited by a stop means. The slider is spring biased through a spring which is carried by a spring guide, the spring guide engaging the slider through a rectangular slot provided in the slider. The slider is connected to a conventional rotary variable rheostat assembly and shaft.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,136,494 11/1938 Edwards 200/11 J X 22 l II i M/ M 38- as y W 1m :7. w 56 46 utttttittttimrm 1 1111mm U.S. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet10f2 3,927,276

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 SheetZ fZ 3,9 27,276

SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH LIMIT STOP STRUCTURE ALLOWING ALTERNATE MAKE AND BREAK OPERATIONAL SWITCH STATES Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a. switch assembly which compresses a frame, a switch carried by the frame, a pivotal switch actuator carried by the frame and engaging the switch to actuate the same, a slider engaging the actuator and means con-- Controls such as variable resistors and switche s are 2 Ceiving the spring guide and stop means engaging the slider to limit its travel.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown a switch assembly 10 which, in general, includesa frame 12 5 upon which is carried a switch 14 and .a variable resiscommonly used in appliances such as televisions, ra-

dies. and stereos to controlthe volume output and to evision, for example, the on off" function and the volume control function aresometimes combined in a single unit by combining a variable resistor ,with' a switch. In such applications, the switch .is usually turned on and off" by a pushing and pulling of a shaft, the shaft also being used to regulate a variable resistor. In such a control it is highly desirable, if nota necessity, that the push pull force be kept to a minimum, and further once the shaft has been set to a particular position, that it becomes locked in such position until it is desired that its position be changed.

Accordingly it is a feature of the present invention to provide a push-pull type switch assembly which does not require an excessive push pull force to operate the switch. Another feature of the invention is to provide a push pull type switch assembly which provides a positive locking of the switch in a particular position. Another feature of the invention is to provide such a switch assembly in combination with a variable resistor. Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a push pull type switch assembly which utilizes a spring biased slider engaging a switch actuator, the spring of the slider being detachably engaged to a slot in the shape of a parallelogram such as a rectangular slot provided in the slider. Yet still another feature of the invention is to provide a switch assembly wherein a spring biased slider engages a switch actuator, and a pivotal stop means limits the travel of the slider. Another feature of the invention is the provision of a switch assembly wherein a spring biased slider engages a switch actuator, and a pivotal stop means engages the slider to limit its travel in an opposite direction.

These and other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGS. 1-4 are top views of the switch assembly shown in four different operating positions; and

FIG. is an exploded view showing the relationship of a spring guide and a slider of the switch assembly.

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention there is provided a switch assembly comprising a frame, a switch carried by the frame, a pivotal switch actuator carried by the frame and engaging the switch, a slider engaging the actuator, means connected to the slider to move same, a coil spring carried by a spring guide and biased against the frame, a slot in the shape of a parallelgram such as a rectangle provided in the slider retor 16. Frame 12 is generally U-shaped in structure having a base portion 18 (which carries switch 14 on its underneath surface) and a pair of upstanding legs 20 and 22- extending from the base. Variable resistor 16 is of the type generally known in the art and includes a terminal board 24 which carries electrical terminals 26, and resistance paths and a collector path (not shown) enclosed in cup shaped housing28. Also enclosed in housing 28 is a rotor carried by shaft 30 which is slideably and rotatably carried in leg 20 of the frame. An electrical contact (not shown) is carried by the rotor and electrically connect the resistance paths to the collector path. Rotation of shaft 30 causes a variation of electrical resistance in a manner wellknown in the art. Switch 14 may be of the rotary type described in US. Pat. No. 2,820,864 issued Jan. 21, 1958 to W. K. Newman, et al. As described in the patent electrical circuits are opened and closed in response to the pivoting of tangs 14' and 14".

' Tangs 14' and 14" are pivoted in response to switch actuator 32. Switch actuator 32 includes a bar 34 that is carried by switch 14 through tangs l4 and 14", which engage apertures 36 and 38'of the switch actuator. At the opposed end of the bar 34 there is a V- shaped notch 40. Movement of switch actuator 32 pivots tangs 14' and 14" to actuate switch 14.

Switch actuator 32 is moved by spring biased slider 42 which includes a base portion 44 and an upstanding leg 46 and tongue 48, both of which extend from the base portion. Tongue 48 is slideably carried in an aperture 50 of leg 22 of frame 12. Shaft 30 is rotatably journalled in leg 46 and is connected thereto by retaining ring 52. The slider is spring biased through coil spring 54 which is carried on spring guide 56. Spring guide 56 includes a bar 58 and a bent-over tang 60. Coil spring 54 is biased between tang 60 and leg 22 of frame 12. As more clearly shown in FIG. 5, spring guide 56 is carried by slider 42 by inserting tang 60 diagonally across rectangular slot 62 provided in the base 44 of the slider and then rotating the spring guide until the base becomes engaged in slots 64 and 66 of tang 60. The spring guide is slideably carried by leg 22 of frame 12 at the opposed end of bar 58 through aperture 68. The slider engages switch actuator 32 through tang 70, the tang engaging one of the slides of V-shaped notch 40, depending upon the position of the slider. A second, similar tang 72, is provided for engagement with another switch actuator should it be desired to provide a second switch.

Stop means 74 limits the travel of the slider and includes a bar 76 pivotly mounted on base 18 of frame 12, the bar having V-shaped notches 80 and 82 at opposed ends of the bar. These notches engage tangs (FIG. 5) 84 and 86 extending from the slider.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the operation of the switch assembly may be described as it could be used in a television, for example. In FIG. 1, spring 54 is expanded and slider 42 retracted and the television is turned on. In FIG. 2 the slider has been pushed in and the spring compressed. Bar 76 has engaged tang 86 to pi vet bar 76 to move it into an interference path with rang 84. In FIG. 3, spring 54 has slightly expanded and slide? 42 has retracted slightly until tang 84 has engaged bar 76. The use of the V-shaped notch 80 locks the slider in this position. Switch actuator 32 has been moved to a position to actuate switch 14, and thetelevision is now turned off. In FIG. 4, the slider has again been indexed in. Tang 86 has cammed bar 76 into such a position that retraction of the slider will permit the slider and the bar to reach the position of FIG. 1 with the television'turned *on". I

' During the-time the television is on (FIG. 1), shaft 30 may be rotated tovary the resistance of variable resistor 16 so as to vary the volume'of. the audio portion of the television. I

What is claimed is:'

l. A switch assembly comprising: a. a frame. b. a switch carried by-said frame, v c. a pivotal switch actuator'carried by said frame and connected to said switch to selectively actuatesame, d. a slider slideably' carried by said frame and engaging said pivotal switch actuator,

e. shaft means connected to said slider to s lideably move same,

f. a spring guide slideably carried by said frame and connected to said slider, v

g. a slot in the shape of a parallelogram provided in said slider, t I

h. a coil spring surrounding. said-spring guideandbiased between said frame and a tang extending from said spring guide and engaging said slot, .and

i. a bar pivotly mounted between ends of said bar on said frame,'and first and second V-shaped notches at opposed. ends of said bar engaging first and second tangs extending from said slider and disposed to provide a space for said bar to pivot therebetween,

movement of said slider from a first position in a first direction engaging said first V-shaped notch with said first tang to pivot said bar into an interference path with said first tang, movement of said slider in a second opposite direction engaging said second tang with said second V -shaped notch to lock said slider in a second position, subsequent movement of said slider in .said first direction engaging said first tang with said first V-shaped notch to pivot said bar and release said second V- shaped notch from said second tang, said pivoting of said bar permitting said slider to return to said first position.

2. A switch assembly according to claim 1 wherein said slot is a rectangle.

3. A switch assembly according to claim 1 further including a variable resistor carried by said frame and wherein said shaft means connected to said slider includes a rotatable shaft extending through said variable resistor and said frame.

' 4. A switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said slider engages said'pivotal switch actuator through a third tang lanced from said slider and disposed in an interference path with said pivotal switch actuator; 

1. A switch assembly comprising: a. a frame, b. a switch carried by said frame, c. a pivotal switch actuator carried by said frame and connected to said switch to selectively actuate same, d. a slider slideably carried by said frame and engaging said pivotal switch actuator, e. shaft means connected to said slider to slideably move same, f. a spring guide slideably carried by said frame and connected to said slider, g. a slot in the shape of a parallelogram provided in said slider, h. a coil spring surrounding said spring guide and biased between said frame and a tang extending from said spring guide and engaging said slot, and i. a bar pivotly mounted between ends of said bar on said frame, and first and second V-shaped notches at opposed ends of said bar engaging first and second tangs extending from said slider and disposed to provide a space for said bar to pivot therebetween, movement of said slider from a first position in a first direction engaging said first V-shaped notch with said first tang to pivot said bar into an interference path with said first tang, movement of said slider in a second opposite direction engaging said second tang with said second V-shaped notch to lock said slider in a second position, subsequent movement of said slider in said first direction engaging said first tang with said first V-shaped notch to pivot said bar and release said second V-shaped notch from said second tang, said pivoting of said bar permitting said slider to return to said first position.
 2. A switch assembly according to claim 1 wherein said slot is a rectangle.
 3. A switch assembly according to claim 1 further including a variable resistor carried by said frame and wherein said shaft means connected to said slider includes a rotatable shaft extending through said variable resistor and said frame.
 4. A switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said slider engages said pivotal switch actuator through a third tang lanced from said slider and disposed in an interference path with said pivotal switch actuator. 